Shoplifting impacted German retail sector by €3 billion last year

Shoplifting set a new record in Germany last year, with goods worth almost €3 billion being stolen, according to the EHI Retail Institute.

The total economic impact from shoplifting last year was 20% higher than in 2022, the data showed, with one third of this impact linked to organised crime.

‘Dramatic development’

Commenting on the findings, Stefan Genth, managing director of the German Retail Association (HDE), urged politicians and lawmakers to take significant legislative action to curb this increasing problem.

“This cannot continue,” he said. “Such a dramatic development can and must no longer be ignored by politicians. The retail sector expects significant measures from the legislature during this legislative period to reduce the number of shoplifting incidents.”

Official crime statistics indicate that Germany reported a slight decrease in shoplifting incidents last year, however these statistics only include cases in which a complaint was officially filed.

“Many retailers are frustrated because complaints rarely lead to convictions and sanctions for the perpetrators, thus avoiding the bureaucratic effort associated with filing a criminal complaint,” Genth added.

Government action

The HDE has proposed various measures to better combat shoplifting, however the organisation believes that the sector’s concerns have not been sufficiently taken on board by the incoming government.

While the government’s plans to improve judicial resources and digitalise processes are seen as a positive step, the HDE is calling for more action to take place, including toughening laws on serious theft offences, especially targeting organised and commercial shoplifting groups.

“It’s about prevention through more consistent and harsher penalties,” said Genth. “It must be clear that shoplifting is not a trivial matter, but a crime that is often committed with great criminal energy.” Read more here.